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They call this dog days and I can attest that it still that in spades for me. What you see is the best of 15 from Normandy and Tim’s. Every fish came on either a #2 VMC Neko Rig with a 3/32 Neko Weight or a 3/16 VMC Finesse Weedless Jig and soft plastics. When you rig the Neko rig correctly hook ups are in the 80% to 90% range-amazing. The hook has a 3 degree off set point-long shank-wide gap and a stout Fluorocarbon Weed Guard. You can pitch this into heavy timber and fish it through consistently. The 3/16 VMC Weedless Finesse Jig has a 1/0 light wirehook-stainless weed guard-a V shaped bait keeper and a Hollow Head that let’s you snug you choice of plastics up tight.  www.vmchooks.com I tossed the Neko Rig on  8lb Sufix Clear Blue Pro MixMono and the Jig on Clear Blue 6lb test.www.suffix.com Cooler weather is setting in which will help out the  76 to 78 degree water temps on these 2 lakes.  Season are changing and I’m gearing up for a great Fall and Winter Season. I urge you to go to Rapala.com and view the videos on these 2 new VMC items, they are very helpful. Rick McFerrinwww.tennesseebassguides.com

Best 4 of 10 or more on Normandy yesterday before the storm ran me to the ramp.  I want to share what I was doing with those that may not be familiar with a Neko Rig. (bottom 2 pics) The rig I was using was a New VMC #1 Weedless Neko Hook a VMC 1/16ounce Neko Weight www.vmchooks.com  and a Black Trick worm.  The VMC Weedless  Neko Hook comes in 4 sizes a #2–#1–1/0 & 2/0 They have a 3 degree off set Point for better hook sets-Resin Closed Eyes that is much easier on line abrasion-and Long shaft-Wide Gap and a Fluorocarbon Weed Guard. The VMC Weight comes in 1/32–1/16–3/32 & 1/8th ounce. The ribs on the weight hold firmly in the bait without damaging the nose of the plastic. For those of you that aren’t familiar with this technique you choose your hook size in relationship to the plastics your using and your weight depending how quickly you want the bait to fall nose down. Yesterday I was fishing laydowns so I wanted a slower fall. Always insert your hook point toward the tail of the plastic (same when using a VMC Wacky O Ring) this will give you a better hook up. You can experiment on how much action to use on the rig-the fish will normally tell you.  Now I didn’t have any big fish again but there was 2 other boats there yesterday with Good Fishermen that I know well. One boat zeroed–the other 2 fish and we were all fishing the same kind of structure. Sometimes you have to use something different and this rig was the difference for me today. Go to www.rapala.com click on VMC then Bass Hook choose the Neko Hooks and watch the instructional videos. They will help you see this under the water. Hope this helps Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

I think the fish are happy that Braxton is back in school. These are a few fish that Braxton caught in August on Chickamauga with his grand father Billy. I said it before but I will again this young man is a fishing machine and very honest. Billy told me that he wont take a picture with any Rapala clothing on unless he caught it on a Rapala Lure. Way to go Braxton-always be upfront and honest with your sponsors and it will come back to you multiplied. Proud of you Braxton.  By the way can you guide me on Chickamauga someday?  Rick www.tennesseebassguides.com

5 hours this morning on the Hill. The 6 above the best of 12 I think. I stayed close to the ramp because of the impending wind and rain from Irma that has made it’s way into our state.  The smallest spot in the top left hand picture is about the size of the other 6 that I caught. Still not on any big fish-but happy for what I got considering. Rapala Skitter Walk www.rapala.com  #2 VMCSpin Shot Drop Shot Hook weighted with a VMC 3/16 Tungsten Drop Shot Weight www.vmchook.com And a 3/16 VMC Weedless Finesse  Jig and soft plastic’s. Everything on 6lb test Clear Blue Sufix Pro Mix Mono. You can view videos on the Rapala.com Site of all products including the Spin Shot-and all the other spin shot skus—Maybe more the end of the wek depending on what this weather does. Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

Not much to talk about–I just haven’t been on any good fish. What you see is a mix of Normandy & Center Hill.  Rapala Skitter Walk-DT6 River Shad and “New BX Brat Pearl Grey Shiner www.rapala.com and Soft Plastics on a NEW VMC 1/8oz Weedless  Finesse Jig www.vmchooks.com. Today on Center Hill I must have caught 15 or more Smallmouth and Spots combined all between 10 and 12 inches. I had 4 out of one laydown—just couldn’t find the good ones.  More next week depending on weather conditions because of the hurricane  that’s headed to Fla. Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

Short and Sweet or Sweet and Short?  What you see was all caught in 20 minutes and then Zero with a capital Z……………………Rapala Skitter Walk—-Rapala DT6 www.rapala.com and soft plastics rigged weightless on a VMC Wide Gap Worm Hook www.vmchooks.com 6 and 8lb Sufix Clear Blue Pro Mix Mono www.sufix.com.  Done for the week. Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

I fished the Hill this morning by myself from 6:00am until 10:00am and had 5 total bites putting the 4 you see in the boat-THEN it got hot hot. I caught these on the following Rapala Skitter Walk-DT6 River Shad—DT10 River Shad www.rapala.com and soft plastic rigged on the new VMC Finesse Weedless Jig www.vmchooks.com I also used a drop shot and a spoon on 3 different schools with no takers. Sufix Clear Blue Promix 6 & 8lb test used on this trip. www.sufix.com  Can’t wait until the lake temps cool off-I’m ready for the fall and winter fishing season. Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

On the water with Ronnie at 6:00am off at 9:30am back home by 10:45am to watch the eclipse—BUT there was a mix of  6 Spots and Largemouth that was willing in those 3 1/2 hour on the water. Big fish was right at 4lbs. Everything on soft plastics rigged on a new 3/16th ounce VMC Weedless Finesse Jig www.vmchooks.com and 6lb test Sufix Clear Blue Pro Mix Mono www.sufix.com What a great combination! I need to give you some info on these new VMC Finesse Weedless Jigs. They come in 4 weights from 3/32oz to 1/4oz and 2 colors Black and Grn Pumpkin. Hook sizes are either a 1/0 or a 2/0 depending on jig weight and are light wire with a super sharp  needle point and 2 stainless steel weed guards. If you are fishing a hollow back type bait they will snug right up to the head.  I like them—and the fish like them too!  Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

Just a so so week-everything (EVERYTHING) was caught on soft plastic rigged with either a VMC Wide Gap Worm Hook weightless  www.vmchooks.com or a “NEW” VMC Weed less Finesse jig.  Sufix Clear Blue Pro Mix Mono 8 & 10lb test www.sufix.com. That was it!  Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

Ronnie and I had a great morning on Tim’s today. We caught and released a mix of 17 Largemouth and Smallmouth caught on a variety of lures. (these are all separate fish by the way) It all started out with a Terminator Original Titanium 3/8oz White Buzz Bait www.terminator lures.com These buzz baits have a turned up nose that allows the bait to surface quickly even on slower retrieves. I threw this on Sufix 10lb test Clear Blue Pro Mix Mono www.sufix.com  Rapala Skitter Walk www.rapala.com and soft plastics rigged weightless on Sufix 8lb Test Clear Blue Pro Mix Mono and a 3/0 VMV XL WideGap Worm Hook www.vmchooks.com  Water Temps 82 degrees and normal Tim’s color.  More next week Lord Willing Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com